Knockout by Tracey Ward Read Free Book Online Page A

but inside I was thinking I had just turned fourteen and that I wasn’t far away from having my own car. I didn’t need a guy with one.
    Sam scowled at me. “You’re not excited about that at all.”
    “No, I am.”
    “No, you’re not. Not as much as you should be and do you know why? I’ll tell you. Kellen.”
    I laughed. “What does Kellen have to do with it? He’s not even here.”
    “No, but he’s still ruined you. You’re spoiled. He’s a god and you expect other guys to measure up to him and they won’t. It’s like you and the comics and the superheroes. Everyday life feels boring because you’ve got this big idea in your head of what it could be. But do you know what?”
    “It’s not,” I muttered.
    “Nope. It’s normal life and these are normal guys. You can’t get mad at them for that.”
    I didn’t answer her because how do you argue with someone who is so dead on, freaky right about you? That was one of those moments where Sam reminded me of Kellen. She was sharp and intuitive. She saw me, just like he did. She knew me.
    I put on my best smile, brushing off her comments.
    “So is it pizza day or n—“
    I wasn’t watching where I was going. I crashed into a hard chest that felt like a wall. A tall, warm wall. When I looked up in surprise I found bright green eyes staring down at me from under a shock of onyx hair. The guy smiled as he took hold of my arms to steady me and when I reflexively smiled back, I felt myself go a little weak inside.
    “Sorry,” I breathed.
    “No worries. Getting run over by a pretty girl definitely won’t be the worst part of my day.”
    My smile widened. “I didn’t exactly run you over.”
    How could I? The guy was made of solid stone.
    “No, but you tried. Football tryouts aren’t for a couple weeks yet. You gunnin’ for my spot?”
    “Depends? What position do you play?”
    “Tight end.”
    “Yeah, you do,” Sam mumbled, checking him out.
    I ignored her. “Nah, you’re safe. I’m more of Running Back.”
    His eyebrows rose in surprise. “You’re into football?”
    “A little.”
    One guess who had taught me about football.
    “Enough to your know your positions. Pretty and you like sports? Tell me you’re single.”
    I blushed with embarrassment, though I tried to hide it. “I am.”
    He smiled again. “Good. Now tell me your number?”
    “What?”
    “Can I get your number?”
    I laughed. “Don’t you want my name first?”
    “I mean, if you want to be formal about it.” He let go of me and offered his hand. “Devon Winslow. Sophmore, Varsity Tight End, about to be late for class but not willing to let someone snatch you up before I get a chance to call you.”
    I shook his hand. “Jenna Monroe. Freshman, football fan—”
    “And Kellen Coulter’s little sister,” he finished, his face turning serious.
    “No, I’m Laney Monroe’s sister, not Kellen’s.”
    He dropped my hand like I’d burned him. “As good as. Hey, it was great to meet you. Welcome to Weston. I gotta go, I’m late.”
    He jogged away toward the gym, Sam and I staring after him in shock.
    “Well that went south quickly,” Sam commented. “Were your hands sweaty? What was that?”
    I narrowed my eyes, feeling my blood boil. “Kellen, that’s what.”
    “Oooh. You just got cock blocked!”
    “Gross. And that’s not how that phrase is used. It doesn’t make sense,” I grumbled.
    “Eh, when you think about it, it does. Kellen blocked cocks from you. That guy literally ran away. Wow, even when he’s not here Kellen’s a badass!”
    My first class of the day was math. What a great way to start off not only my day and week, but my year as well – with my own personal hell. When I sat down I quickly whipped out my phone to text Kellen.
    Hey. How’s college?
    He answered immediately.
    It’s cool. How’s high school?
    It’s cool. Big. Little scary. Hey, speaking of scary, what the hell did you do?
    Don’t know what you mean.
    Bullshit!
    Language